مِعْصَم
miʕṣammasculine
The English word 'wrist' is translated into Arabic as مِعْصَم (miʕṣam) or رُسْغ.
Meaning: joint where the hand is attached to the arm (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مِعْصَم | miʕṣam | masculine |
| رُسْغ | rusḡ | masculine |
The phrase refers to the joint where the hand is attached to the arm.
Which one should you use?
مِعْصَم is the most common and widely used word for 'wrist' in modern standard Arabic and most dialects. In contrast, رُسْغ is often used in more formal, medical or classical contexts to refer to the wrist or the carpal bones.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dual form of مِعْصَم is مِعْصَمَيْنِ, used when referring specifically to both wrists.
How do you pronounce it?
miʕṣam
Did you know?
- The root letters of مِعْصَم are shared with عِصْمَة, a theological term meaning 'infallibility' or 'protection from sin'. Both words rely on the concept of a 'hold' that prevents a person from falling.
- The formal term رُسْغ is not exclusive to humans and is also used to describe the 'ankle' of certain animals.
- In classical Arabic poetry, mentioning the مِعْصَم is often a metonym for a warrior's strength or the steadiness of their sword arm.
Examples in context
- يبدو أن الكسور في المعصم خطيرة.It seems that the fractures in the wrist are serious.
- كيف يمكنني تقوية عضلات المعصم؟How can I strengthen my wrist muscles?
- أحس معصمي يوجعني منذ الصباح.My wrist has been hurting since morning.
- أشعر بألم في مِعْصَمي.ash'uru bi-alam fi mi'samī.I feel a pain in my wrist.
- مِعْصَم الرجل ضيق جداً.mi'sam al-rajul daqīq jiddan.The man's wrist is very thin.
- أرتدي الساعة على مِعْصَمي.artadī al-sā'a 'alā mi'samī.I wear the watch on my wrist.
Example conversation
Omar and Nour are at a sports clinic.
- عمر Omarيا نور، مِعْصَمي يؤلمني كثيراً.yā Nūr, mi'samī yu'limunī kathīran.Nour, my wrist hurts a lot.
- نور Nourهل سقطت على مِعْصَمك؟hal saqatta 'alā mi'samika?Did you fall on your wrist?
- عمر Omarنعم، لقد أصبت مِعْصَمي أثناء اللعب.na'am, laqad asabtu mi'samī athnā' al-la'ib.Yes, I injured my wrist while playing.
- نور Nourيجب أن يراه الطبيب.yajibu an yarāhu al-tabīb.The doctor should see it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wrist” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
